South Africa, Illegal mining

Illegal mining cost South African economy R60 billion in 2024
Illegal mining is waging war on the South African economy, with the illicit trade costing the economy at least R60 billion in 2024.
Illegal mining ringleader escaped during South Africa disaster with help from officers, police say
South African police say a suspected illegal gold mining ringleader escaped from custody with help from police officers about a week after resurfacing from a disused mine in South Africa where 246 survivors were rescued and 78 bodies were retrieved last week.
Informal mining persists in South Africa despite police crackdowns
In mid-January 2024, over 1,000 hunger-weakened miners exited two abandoned mine shafts in Stilfontein, near Johannesburg in South Africa. They had been starved out by the police in Operation Vala Umgodi—meaning "plug the hole"—which had cut off food and water in an effort to "smoke out" a shadow workforce.
A South African horror story: Illegal mining standoff draws to an end
In South Africa a months long standoff between police and illegal miners in an abandoned gold mine comes to end, with close to 80 found dead in grim recovery operation.
Illegal Miner Lifted From S.African Gold Shaft Dies In Hospital
An illegal miner lifted from an abandoned gold pit in South Africa has died in hospital, health officials said, raising the toll from the site to 88 since August.
Illegal Gold Mining Ringleader Escapes With Police Help
A suspected leader of an illegal gold mining operation in South Africa, James Neo Tshoaeli, has reportedly escaped custody with alleged assistance from police officers. Tshoaeli, who goes by the nickname "Tiger,
Mining ringleader escaped during S Africa disaster ‘with help from officers’
Nearly 2,000 miners were working illegally underground at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine south west of Johannesburg, police said.
Hosted on MSN5h
South Africa: Protests in Johannesburg over job losses in the mining sector
Members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) protest outside the ...
The Tablet6h
Regulate mining to top exploitation, bishop urges South African government
A South African bishop called for the government to formalise the activities of small-scale mining operations after scores of ...
South Africa criticized for ‘horrific’ mining crackdown after 78 bodies pulled from underground
The clampdown on illegal mining cut off food and water to hundreds of miners underground. At least 78 bodies were pulled from ...
South Africa's mining industry reports lowest number of deaths last year
South Africa's mining industry reported 42 deaths last year, the lowest number to date and a 24% improvement on the previous year, official statistics showed on Thursday.
Mining Weekly21h
Call for partnerships to capitalise on African mining potential
The private sector must continue working with government and strengthen public–private partnerships to not only fortify the ...
South African mining industry records lowest number of fatalities in 2024
The mining industry recorded 42 fatalities this year, and no disaster-type accidents were reported in 2024 compared to one accident in 2023, where 13 mine employees lost their lives in a conveyance ...
South African rand retreats against dollar after Trump inauguration
South Africa's rand retreated early on Tuesday against a buoyant dollar after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a flurry ...
Mining Weekly8h
Novel South African-engineered mobile rescue winder instrumental in Stilfontein rescue
The rescue of 246 surviving illegal miners from the Stilfontein shaft in less than three days was enabled by a locally ...